 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Geekygeek
Date: 2013-10-08 01:41
Hey guys, I haven't been on here for a while. I'm in 8th grade (13 years old) and I've been playing oboe in my school band since 6th grade. A problem that's always been around me for all these years is getting low notes out. Sometimes it would give a little tremolo but the most prevalent problem is squeaking before the note actually comes out. It's not really squeaking but I don't know how I would describe it. For example if I was trying to play low F, I would hear a high F first before the low actually comes out. I'm using handmade reeds from reedmaker.com and they have done very well for me. My band directors sees a lot of potential in me and even requested the school for a new oboe over the summer and they actually got me one, a new Yamaha 441A which is a huge improvement over the 25 year old Selmer I had. I just need some tips on getting the low notes out. Make a frowny face worked for a while, but it doesn't seem to work anymore. I can get low notes out if I slur but can't if I tongue. Even when I'm really warmed up, it still happens.
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Author: JRC
Date: 2013-10-08 15:04
You should go to your teacher for your difficulties. These are the kind of things that student-teacher interactions are necessary.
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2013-10-08 23:46
It could be a leak - even a tiny leak can cause bad response on the low notes. Try slowly tonguing notes in chromatic sequence down from c-in-the-staff down. Do this repeatedly and if the squeaks start in the same place you've probably got a leak on the lowest closed pad for that note.
Also be sure you use a very loose embouchere on the lower notes because the reed must vibrate more widely for low notes, just as a jump-rope swings a larger circle when it is turning slowly than when it turns fast. Try deliberately playing flat and if the response it all right, then tighten your embouchere just enough to bring it into tune but no more.
Or your reed could just be too closed which would have the same result as a too-tight embouchere.
Do you have a teacher? Ask him/her to check your adjustments.
Good luck!
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2013-10-09 11:41
If you don't have an oboe teacher, find someone else who plays oboe.
Try your reed on his oboe and try to play the low notes. If you can do this easily, perhaps the problem is with your instrument? Take your oboe to an oboe teacher and ask them to help.
If you can't play the low notes on the other oboist's instrument, ask to try his/her reed on their oboe and then on yours. If you have no trouble with the low notes, the problem may be with your reeds. You should be able to get good reeds from an oboe teacher.
If you still can't play the low notes, it is definitely time to get a teacher ..
J.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-10-09 12:15
A common problem causing difficulty with notes below E is the forked F vent remaining very slightly open, so check that first. The F vent should close with RH finger 2 while RH3 is being held down. Most general repairers overlook this as they can see the F vent is opening and closing with RH3 only, but not making sure RH2 also has to close it while RH3 is held down - this is very important.
Another more serious problem which can cause low notes to roll or bubble is a problem with the top joint bore if it has been reamed out too large, though I wouldn't have thought this would be the case with Yamaha or any other reputable make (although Yamaha did have trouble with a batch of G1 crooks on the earlier 62II alto saxes as they all had the wrong taper, but they were recalled). While the instrument may be sealing and regulated well, the low notes will be difficult to control as a result of the top joint bore. This is something that's not easy to sort out short of getting a replacement top joint which hasn't been over bored.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Oboelips
Date: 2013-10-09 18:10
The above are all great ideas, and one of them very well may fix your problem. But, it may be your airstream. If you CAN slur some low notes, do this exercise:
Play the low note. Hold that embochure.
Pay attention to your airstream's location, support and speed.
While still blowing, VERY lightly touch the reed with the tip of your tongue--for just a moment. Don't change anything else.
This will stop the sound for a moment, but keep blowing, everything the same.
Then, take your tongue off the reed.
If your support, air speed, airstream location and embochure have remained the same, the sound should be there too.
Repeat.
You may try it with quarter notes, maybe 16ths. But be sure and do it with some whole notes too, long tones do so much for the oboe.
Wally Bhosys, (formerly of the Met Opera Orchestra) told me that the thing that helps low notes is whistling (low tones, not high) and playing low tones on the flute (which you may or may not have access to).
Oboefully,
Deb
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2013-10-10 18:19
I taught myself oboe in the 8th and didn't have lessons until my 30's. I highly recommend lessons. A teacher will be able to look at your oboe and try it out and see if it is the instrument, not you. If it is you, a teacher can analyze your reeds and show you how to adjust them to your liking. One of the oboists I played with in high school honor band turned out to be my teacher many years later. Its a small world.
Sometimes I will soak a reed really well, then squeeze the opening a little bit to get out the low notes. Cleaning a reed really well will sometimes open up the low notes.
(Try these on an old but still playable reed first) I will also do some scraping to make the bottom of the windows a little more defined. You shouldn't need a plaque for this operation. That seems to open up the low notes for me. Don't dig too far!
Please take my advice with a grain of salt, as I am not a professional. Try on old reeds (not your best reed) first. Have a great day.
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2013-10-21 00:45
Two more things in case it is technique: see if pulling the reed just slightly more out of your mouth solves the problem; it's more like "rolling" the reed out on your lips than actually pulling it. (The opposite for playing high notes.) The other thing is to pull in the corners of your lips around the reed more (this is not a "squeeze," just a "close" so that more of your lip towards the corners is touching the reed) for low notes. Subtle things that may work if everything else is reasonably correct.
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